China ports' iron ore stocks at record 79.22 mln T

SHANGHAI, May 21 (Reuters) - Imported iron ore stockpiles at Chinese ports reached a record 79.22 million tonnes as of May 15 and the figures are likely to increase further, China's National Development and Reform Commission said.

The commission, the country's top planning body, held a meeting on Friday to discuss how to lower iron ore port stocks, it said in a statement posted on its website, www.ndrc.gov.cn, on Tuesday.

It said the massive inflows of iron ore had caused overstocking and severe congestion in ports in northern China, including Qingdao, Rizhao, Tianjin and Lianyungang. (Reporting by Alfred Cang; Editing by Edmund Klamann)